The setting, one of the most outstanding waterfront views in the world, three graces, two cathedrals and a host of modern buildings all beneath the gaze of the Liver birds. There’s glorious sunshine and the river is reasonably calm. Which is fortunate, as a select group of invitees and press board the Royal Daffodil ferry to set sail on the most famous ferry journey of them all, across the Mersey to join the BBC as it launches this years Electric Proms festival.
This was a special day for Liverpool for two reasons. Co-hosting and launching 2008’s Electric Proms, the first time that Auntie has moved part of its annual festival away from the capital and Tony Christie opening the event with a world premiere of his latest album 'Made in Sheffield’.
Tony Christie has enjoyed a renaissance over the past couple of years. The majority of the credit should and does go to Peter Kay who took Christie’s 'Amarillo’ to the top of the charts a couple of years back. Christie however has not chosen to sit back and live off the royalty cheques but instead to continue, with more vigour than ever, to write and record the music that inspires him. None more so than with his latest album, a dedication to the city of Sheffield and the songwriters that it has produced over the past 30 years or so. Songs by Jarvis Cocker, Phil Oakey and Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys all feature on this new long player which Christie is performing in full today.
Anticipation levels are high, as BBC Radio Merseyside begin their live broadcast of the event with a brief introduction from local DJ Billy Butler. The band make their way to the front end of the boat quickly followed by Tony Christie who introduces 'How can I Entertain’ a Parisian styled crooner from the new album. This is swiftly followed by the new single 'Born To Cry’ a track penned by the Steel City’s own Jarvis Cocker. Next up, is a clever reworking of the Arctic Monkeys 'The Only Ones Who Know’ which, explained Christie, has received the 'blessing’ of Alex Turner who he recently met at the Q Awards.
A song that has great importance to Christie and the album itself is 'Coles Corner’, which was originally penned and recorded by Richard Hawley. The singer songwriter also from Sheffield is a massive fan of Christie and after the initial enquiry to cover his track Hawley suggested the concept of a Sheffield album.
There is quality throughout the performance with the band playing a mixture of rockabilly and cooler jazzy sounds that suit this small space perfectly. Highlight of the show and the song that created the most dialog between the guests afterwards, was the James Bond inspired 'Danger, Is a Woman in Love’. The track was written by Sheffield pub singer Martin Bragger who was completely unknown outside of the city until this release. There is a certain kind of surrealism though, as while Christie belts out the vocal, we gently bob up and down in the water.
The band are joined by legendary jazz trumpeter Guy Barker for the lush cover of the Human League ballad 'Louise’ and he remains on stage to accompany Christie for the finale of crowd pleasers from the 'old catalogue’ which include 'I Did What I Did For Maria’, the fabulous 'Avenues & Alleyways’ and of course 'Is This The Way to Amarillo’ which closes the show in style.
Tony Christie releases new single 'Born To Cry' on November 3. Made In Sheffield follows on November 10.
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